True confession – as I sit here to write this email, I’m looking at a pile of paperwork sitting in front of me that has been sitting there for at least a full month (probably much longer). I thought that putting it in full view would motivate me to get it done, but no, it’s still sitting there. I don’t need it done right away (it’s for taxes), but in the past I’ve put it off till the very last minute.
So, instead of dealing with it, I decided to do some research and write an article about procrastination – ironic, isn’t it?
Sound familiar? I think all of us have procrastinated at one time or another. We know we WANT to get something done, we may even NEED to get it done, but for some reason we just can’t seem to do it. We get pulled into Netflix, scrolling on our phone, or even cleaning out the refrigerator. Next thing we know, its two hours later and not only is the thing not done, but we pile on the guilt and shame of wasting all that time.
The most common reason we procrastinate is because we fear failure. When we feel fear or anxiety about a situation, we postpone doing it. This is our limbic system (our nervous system’s fight or flight system) trying to keep us safe.
Our limbic system has evolved to keep us safe – fighting off predatory animals or fleeing from them to find safety. This worked really well for ancient man, but unfortunately the stress we feel being stuck in traffic, being late for a meeting, or when our child is screaming in the store triggers those same exact feelings of being unsafe. We procrastinate because we have thoughts of
“It’s so hard. What if I can’t handle it?”
“I’m not smart enough. What if people find out I’m stupid?”
“What if I don’t know what to do next?”
“What will people think if I don’t do it perfectly?”
What about instead of viewing the situation from a mindset of “I either succeed or fail”, we view the situation as an opportunity to learn?
So instead of viewing my big project from a place of “It’s a huge pile of papers and many hours of work!”, I could try things like:
1. Celebrate baby steps. Instead of thinking the whole huge project, I can choose to take baby steps. Maybe today I’ll take 15 minutes to just organize it into stacks. Much more doable!
2. Be curious. Ask questions. Why am I having a hard time getting started? What am I feeling about it? How can I get some support with this? How can I motivate myself to get started? What are better ways I can organize this so it’s not as daunting?
3. Let go of perfection. I can let go of some of the little things and prioritize the big things. I can focus on doing my paperwork and let go of some of the housecleaning this week (or better yet, get the kids to pitch in!)
So now that I’ve finished my “research” on procrastination, I’m ready to do 15 minutes to get started on my pile of paperwork!
What are you procrastinating? I’d love to hear how you’re able to get unstuck and moving towards your goals!
